Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) is the association of a facial port-wine stain with abnormal vessels on the surface of the brain (leptomeningeal angioma) , glaucoma , or both. Some people have an isolated intracranial variant, meaning abnormal brain blood vessels with no skin or eye symptoms. SWS does NOT generally run in families. It can affect one side (in about 85%) or both sides of the body (in about 15%).

The presence of a port-wine stain involving the forehead or eyelids raises the suspicion of SWS. These infants and children must be followed closely for other medical issues, including vision problems, epilepsy, and developmental delays.

We do not know what causes SWS however treatments are available for many of the complications of the disease. More research is needed to understand the cause of SWS, how to treat it, and how to prevent the medical and developmental problems resulting from it.